Multi-adjustable, multi-functional work station system

ABSTRACT

A multi-adjustable, multi-functional work station system is provided including vertically-extending support means adjustable at a plurality of horizontal and angular positions with respect to the vertical axis of the support means. The accessory means are attached to a connector means which is adjustably coupled to track means located within the support means. The track means are disposed parallel one with respect to the other.

REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent, Ser. No. 654,952, filed Sep. 27, 1984, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 417,543, filed Sep. 13, 1982.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multi-adjustable, multifunctional work station system.

Vertically adjustable, horizontal surfaces, which are vertically supported, are known in the prior art. These horizontal surfaces are undirectionally adjustable in fixed vertical plane.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,547,296 to White, for example, relates to a vertically adjustable, horizontal table in which vertical support members, in the form of sheet metal inner and upper panel sections 12 and outer and lower sheet metal panel sections 13, are in guided relationship with each other for supporting a flat table top 10. Table top 10 is vertically adjustable in a fixed, undirectional plane. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,222 to Meuller, horizontal seat member 28 is vertically adjustable with respect to vertically-extending support posts 11 and 12 by employing handles 42 to engage and disengage pawl 43 and slots 18 to effect said adjustable movement. A vertically adjustable work station is also provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,136 to Senqua. This vertical adjustment is accomplished employing the adjustable support leg assembly described in FIGS. 5-7 of the Senqua patent.

In summary, the above-described prior art vertically-extending members support a horizontal surface, and a horizontal position, in a fixed vertical plane, and are vertically adjustable only in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, all of the above vertical supports are unifunctional and are designed for single-purpose use. Therefore, systems which these members support are severely limited and exhibit little or no flexibility of use while causing a maximum amount of obstruction to the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work station system including a pair of support means having an accessory, in the form of a work surface connected at both ends to each of the support means, the work surface being disposed in respect of horizontal and angular positions.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view of the support means 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the support means depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the work station of FIG. 1 further including various accessory means.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the work station system of FIG. 4 further including additional work stations disposed in a side-by-side relationship.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, perspective view specifying in detail retaining means 14 and its operational relationship to support means 2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the work station system of this invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, sectional view of the system of FIG. 7 taken along line 8--8.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the system of FIG. 8 taken along line 9--9.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, perspective view of a retaining bar means 64.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Contrary to prior art, adjustable tables, adjustable seats, and work stations, and the like, as previously described, which are directed only to vertically adjustable and horizontally supported unifunctional systems, the work station systems of this invention are multi-adjustable and multifunctional in nature.

The systems of the present invention include novel, vertically-extending support means, which are capable of supporting a plurality of accessory means, such as rectangular work surfaces and the like. The accessory means can be adjusted to a plurality of horizontal and angular positions with respect to the vertical axis of the support means.

The vertically-extending support means of the present invention includes a plurality of vertically-extending track means disposed generally parallel one with respect to the other and forming a channel means therewithin. The track means are spaced apart at a distance which will facilitate bracing of an accessory means in the fixed position with respect to the support means. The track means are also spaced apart at a distance for facilitating the structural integrity of the support means. Preferably, the support means comprises a pair of vertically-extending stanchions, including vertically-extending track means, preferably comprising channel means, spaced apart by, and attached to, a central post means, the post means acting to provide improved structural integrity therefor. The vertically-extending support means described above preferably has a rectangular, cross-sectional configuration.

The accessory means are attached to a connector means. The connector means is adjustably coupled to the support means for movement within the track means. By moving the connector means within each of the track means, the work surface can be adjusted in an upward and downward direction, to a plurality of horizontal and angular positions with respect to the vertical axis of said support means. Furthermore, the work surfaces are preferably adjustable in a forward and backward direction to a plurality of horizontal positions with respect to the vertical axis of the support means. This is preferably accomplished by movement of the connector means within a peripheral track located in the accessory means. The respective tracks in each member are facing in the same direction. By moving the connector means in an upward and downward direction within each track means, the accessory means will be maintained at various horizontal and/or angular positions with respect to said support means.

The connector means preferably is independently movable within each of a pair of track means in the support means, and preferably comprises respective bracket and support plates joined one to the other, preferably at right angles. In position, the bracket plate rests against the face of the support means, and the support plate extends outwardly therefrom, for purposes of supporting the accessory means in a desired predetermined position. Apertures located within the plate facilitate movable attachment of the connector means to the support means, while aperture in the support plate facilitates attachment of the accessory means to the connector means.

Preferably, attachment means, which are typically bolts or the like, joins the connector means to a retaining means movably located within each of the tracks. The retainer means preferably comprises a bar sized to move within the track for varying the horizontal and vertical positions of the work surface. The retaining means includes a pair of parallel, spaced-apart groove means which are in sliding engagement with the vertically-extending stanchions for minimizing turning of the retaining means within the track means. A bolt or the like is preferably employed as the attachment means. Therefore, the retaining means preferably includes a threaded opening for receiving detachment means therewithin.

Various accessory means can be included in the subject system. The preferred accessory means is, of course, the rectangular work surface. For example, other accessory means includes an overhead lighting fixture. This overhead fixture is preferably disposed within the confines of the central reinforcing post and is in slideable engagement in an upward and downward direction therewithin. Other accessories, for example, include footrest means, side table means, shelf means and the like.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, accessory means in the form of a rectangular work surface are attached at one or both ends to the support means to form a work table, footrest, or shelf, respectively. Furthermore, at least one accessory means is preferably attached to both sides of the multi-functional support means. A plurality of support means may be disposed in the side-by-side configuration, wherein a pair of work tables may be supported on the opposite sides of a single support means. Therefore, by employing the subject work station system, unlimited arrangements of modular, interchangeable systems can be provided in which work positioning can be established on an individual basis, resulting in the maximization of personal comfort and organization for the ultimate user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a multi-adjustable, multifunctional work station system 1 is provided, which includes a novel, vertically-extending support means 2, having vertically-extending track means 3 located therein, for maintaining at least one accessory means 15 in a plurality of horizontal and angular positions with respect to the vertical axis of support means 2. A work surface 20 is depicted in a horizontal and angular position (in phantom), respectively in FIG. 1.

Support means 2 are maintained in a vertical position by a support base 25 which is made more stable by support feet 26 located at the respective ends of the support base 25. To promote retaining of the work surface 20 in a fixed position, a support arm 27 is provided which is joined at one end to the underside of the work surface 20 and at the other end within track means 3 of support means 2.

The support means 2, which includes a plurality of vertically-extending track means 3, are disposed generally parallel one with respect to the other, and preferably form a channel means 3a therewithin. The track means 3 is spaced apart at a distance for facilitating the structural integrity of the support system, for example, at a distance "X" in FIGS. 2 and 3. It also provides for the effective bracing of various accessory means connected to said support means 2.

Support means 2, as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, preferably comprises a multi-component structure in which a plurality of vertically-extending support stanchions 2a are joined to the opposite sides 4a and 4b, respectively, of an intermediate, vertically-extending reinforcing post 4. The intermediate, vertically-extending reinforcing post 4 preferably includes a hollow central core section preferably having a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

Each of the support stanchions 2a preferably have a track means 3 disposed therewithin. The support stanchion 2a preferably has a generally U-shaped, cross-sectional configuration. Support stanchion 2a comprises a base section 6, which is rearwardly-facing, joined to side sections 7 and 8, which are respectively inwardly-facing and outwardly-facing. Typical side sections 7 and 8 are disposed generally parallel one with respect to the other and are generally perpendicular to base section 6.

In order to more effectively retain hereinafter described connector means 10 within track means 3, vertically-extending flange means 9, attached to the outer ends 7a and 8a of side sections 7 and 8, are provided. Support means 2 in a multi-component form comprises post 4 joined at its opposite ends 4a and 4b to the inwardly-facing sections 7 of a pair of stanchions 2a. In the most preferred form, the support means comprise a pair of the multi-component structures previously described in which the respective rearwardly-facing base sections 6 are attached back-to-back to provide the system readily depicted in FIG. 3.

In this latter configuration, a pair of track means 3 are disposed within and on opposite sides of said support means to form a dual-sided configuration 1a. By employing this dual-sided structure, accessory means can be disposed on both sides of the support means or, alternatively, a plurality of side-by-side work station systems can be fabricated. In this way, a plurality of work station systems are capable of being designed to suit the desires of the ultimate purchaser.

Referring to FIG. 5, a side-by-side work station system 1a is provided, wherein three work stations 1b-1d are depicted. Work station 1b is a one-sided work table. Work station lc is a two-sided work table including partitions 33, overhead light means 30, shelves 21 and 21a, drawer 22, and footrest 28.

In a preferred form of this invention, support means 2 comprises a single, unitary structure, including a plurality of track means 3 as previously described above.

Accessory means 15 are attached to a at least one support means 2 employing connector means 10. In one preferred embodiment of this invention (See FIG. 4), a work surface 20, i.e., table means, are attached at both ends to a pair of support means 2. Another work surface attached at both ends to a support means 2, such as shelf 21, and adjustable wire shelf 21a, are supported at their outer ends. The accessory means can include, in addition to tables and shelves supported at one or both ends, other accessories such as footrest means 28, and the like.

Additional accessory means 15 may also be supported by the work surfaces themselves, not by support means 2. For example, drawer means 22 may be supported from the underside of work surface 20. Preferably, peripheral track means 35 are provided on the underside of the work surface to support these accessory means.

Overhead accessory means 30, such as lamp means and the like, are also provided in the work station system of FIG. 4. The overhead accessory means are supported by engagement of the accessory arms 31, which are in fitting engagement within the inner core 4a of post 4, and are movable in upward and downward direction therein.

Partition means 32 are joined to either side of support means 2 to provide an enclosed work station system. If a two-sided work surface is employed, a wider partition 33 is provided on the back side of support means 2 (see phantom).

Accessory means 15 are movably attached within track means 3 by connector means 10. Connector means 10 are adjustably coupled to the support means 2 for movement in an upward and downward direction to a plurality of positions within track means 3. Moreover, as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, connector means 10 is adjustably coupled within each of a pair of track means 3. Connector means 10 traverses, and is disposed in a position substantially parallel to, the face of said support means 2.

Connector means 10 preferably comprise bracket plate means 11 joined to support plate means 12, with bracket plate means 11 resting against the face of support means 2 and the support plate means 12 extending outwardly therefrom. Thus, bracket plate means 11 of FIGS. 2 and 3 traverses and is disposed in a position substantially parallel to the face of support means 2. Preferably, support plate means 12 is disposed generally at right angles to connector plate means 11 so that when support plate means 12 rests against support means 2, bracket plate means 11 extends outwardly from said support means 2. In this manner, connector means 10 provide support for accessory means attached thereto.

Connector means 10 is disposed for upward and downward movement with respect to support means 2 by attachment means 13 which ride within track means 3. As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of attachment means 13 ride within a pair of track means 3 such that one of the pair of attachment means 13 rides within one of the pair of track means 3 and the other attachment means 13 rides within the other track means 3. Moreover, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate that each end of connector means 10 is individually attached with each of a pair of individual track means 3. The ends of the connector means are disposed in a parallel side-by-side relationship with respect to said pair of parallel track means via said pair of attachment means 13. Each attachment means rides within one of the respective pair of individual track means 3. Retention of attachment means 13 within track means 3 is facilitated by flange means 9, including flange ends 9a, which maintains same in place therewithin. Attachment means 13 preferably comprise bolts, or preferably threaded bolts and the like, and retaining bar means 14 which fit securely and move within track means 3 in an essentially upward and downward direction.

In a preferred form of this invention, retaining bar means 14 are disposed within track means 3 and the ends of said bar means 14 are held in position by flange means 9. The threaded opening 14a centrally located in the bar means 14 receive attachment means 13 which is also preferably threaded to be received by said bar means 14 and hold said connector means in place, which is also preferably threaded to be received by said bar means 14 and hold said connector means 10 in place.

To maintain aligned movement of connector means 10 within track means 3 in a fixed, downward, vertical plane, retaining bar means 14 preferably includes a pair of groove means 14c disposed parallel one with respect to the other (see FIG. 6). The distance between the respective groove means 14c is preferably equal to the distance between respective flanges 9 so that groove means 14c ride on flange ends 9a. Therefore, the flange ends 9a provide a rail on which groove means 14c will follow. Locking rib means 14d are preferably provided within groove means 14c to facilitate the above described aligned movement. Furthermore, not be realized by either the rotation control circuit as shown in FIG. 6, or the microprocessor construction 29' as shown in FIG. 12 are provided, although not shown in FIG. 15.

In addition, in the third embodiment according to the present invention, the provision of plural rotation control circuits, plural unevenness-detecting portions, plural pairs of front rollers, and plural second motors as the case may be, enables different slivers at different draft rates, respectively to be carded and drafted at the same time by one drawing frame. Moreover, in the third embodiment according to the present invention, the drafting can be carried out between the gill box 21 and the feed rollers 22 by the provision of a pair of the front rollers 23, plural pairs of the feed rollers 22 and plural gill box 21.

In the embodiment according to the present invention, as described in the foregoing, carding and drafting of the slivers can be carried out by one drawing frame at different draft rates, respectively. Moreover, according to the present invention, a space for the installation of the drawing frame can be reduced to one machine-space, therefore it is possible to realize a drawing frame with a high efficiency in view of economy.

In the foregoing embodiments according to the present invention, the description has been made, particularly, in case of the drawing frame. However, it is apparent for those skilled in the art that the construction of each embodiment can also be applied to spinning machine in the subsequent spinning process.

As described in the foregoing, the spinning machine according to the present invention is constructed in such a manner that the feed rollers and the front rollers are driven separately or independently, by different motors for controlling its rotational speed respectively, while detecting unevenness of the sliver and storing the information about the sliver to be carded and drafted in the upper stream of a fiber working portion into a memory and the rotational speed ratio between the feed rollers and the front rollers is changed accurately in accordance with the information about the unevenness thus stored in the memory, so that change of the draft rate can be promptly carried out without changing gears, different from the prior art, and a wide range of slivers including slivers having short or long uneven parts and unusually thin or thick slivers are adjusted and levelled off continuously, therefore slivers of good quality can be produced.

Moreover, according to the present invention, since the speed change ratio of the gears is not fixed, the setting of the draft rate can be arbitrary and yet than machines according to the prior art wherein an expensive stepless gear with a complicated construction is provided while the operation noise can be made smaller and the weight of the unit can be reduced.

Furthermore, the provision of pairs of feed rollers and pairs of front rollers to one gill box enables a plurality of slivers to be carded and drafted by one spinning machine with different draft rates while performance of the machine can be improved and space for installation of the machine can be reduced.

While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words which have been used are rather words of description than limitation, and that various changes and modification may be made within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention in its broader aspects. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sliver drawing apparatus, comprising:feed rollers and front rollers substantially provided along a moving direction of a sliver for drawing said sliver while exerting compressive stresses thereto; a first motor for driving said front rollers; a second motor for driving said feed rollers; first sensor means for detecting the rotational speeds of said first and second motors; second sensor means for detecting an actual thickness of a portion of said sliver at a position upstream of said feed rollers in said moving direction and emitting a signal proportional thereto; first electromagnetic brake means and second electromagnetic brake means for starting and stopping said first motor and said second motor, respectively; and control means including:(a) memory means for storing said signal from said second sensor means, (b) means for emitting a signal from said memory means, based upon said signal from said second sensor means, after a lapse of time sufficient for said sliver portion to pass said feed rollers, said lapse of time being determined in response to factors including a speed ratio of said first and second motors and a distance between said second sensor means and said feed rollers, (c) means responsive to said signal from said emitting means for controlling the speed ratio of said first and second motors such that a sliver having a uniform thicknes emerges from said front rollers, and (d) brake control means for emitting signals to said first and second brake means for:(i) simultaneously releasing said first and second brake means when a control voltage of said brake control means crosses a predetermined level during a start of rotation of said motors, and (ii) simultaneously activating said first and second brake means when the control voltage of said brake control means crosses a predetermined level at the end of rotation of said motors.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first motor and said second motor are electric motors of the type whose rotational speed changes in accordance with a change in frequency of a power supply thereof.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second sensor comprises at least a pair of measuring rollers and at least a position sensor.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said memory means is an analog memory.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first sensor means comprise a first pulse generator and a second pulse generator for detecting the rotational speed of said first motor and said second motor respectively, and for generating pulse signals for said memory means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for controlling the speed ratio comprises a first inverter and a second inverter for changing the frequency of signals to be applied to said first and said second motors.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control means further comprises a feed-forward control signal generating means having a draft rate setting means, for generating said feed-forward control signal to be applied to said second inverter through an operational circuit for levelling the sliver in accordance with the output from said first pulse generator and said second pulse generator.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for correcting said time lapse.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a microprocessor having a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM) for storing control programs and various control data, a random access memory (RAM) for storing various data including data corresponding to the output from external elements and units, an input portion, and an input/output portion. 